A group of emergency physicians is calling on state officials to expand training for 911 dispatchers to improve survival rates of residents who experience a sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital.

Rhode Island is the only state in New England where 911 operators are not certified to coach callers on how to perform CPR. In states with certified Emergency Medical Dispatch Centers, 911 operators also can instruct callers about how to control bleeding, relieve choking and help someone overdosing until emergency responders arrive, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Emergency Medical Services.

The health department’s stroke-prevention task force’s 2016 report recommended a dispatcher certification program based on the current emergency medical dispatch standards.